For many years, I deeply cherished my role as a military spouse. It’s a life filled with profound meaning, yet undeniably presents unique challenges. During my husband’s service in the Marine Corps, I experienced firsthand the incredible sense of community and solidarity among military families. I also witnessed the deep well of support and gratitude from the wider American public. However, there were times of intense loneliness, a feeling of being geographically isolated from the familiar comforts of family and long-term friends. These were the people I would typically turn to for help navigating life’s everyday hurdles, challenges that are often amplified by the transient nature of military life, with its frequent relocations, deployments, and periods of separation. This experience led me to co-found Blue Star Families in 2009, driven by two core ambitions. First, to vividly share the authentic stories and data-backed realities of military family life. Second, to forge meaningful partnerships with organizations and individuals outside of the military community, creating a network of support to address the specific problems military families face, in ways that are genuinely helpful and relevant to their needs.
Through our pioneering research initiatives and collaborative program partnerships, powered by the compassion of communities and organizations across the nation, Blue Star Families is actively dismantling the walls of isolation and alienation that too often confront military families. We are committed to identifying the root causes of these challenges and developing proactive, upstream solutions. We achieve this by nurturing strong networks of trust through our local Chapters, Outposts, and our secure online digital Neighborhood. Our innovative programs, including the impactful 4+1 Commitment: The Formula for Military Spouse Success, Nourish the Service addressing food insecurity, vital Support Circles, and the community-focused Do Your Part initiative, are fundamentally changing how we approach the difficulties associated with frequent moves, military spouse employment hurdles, and gaps in government support. From empowering military spouse career advancement and providing essential caregiver support to combating food insecurity within the military community, our initiatives are making a real, positive, and measurable difference in the lives of military and Veteran families.
Today, Blue Star Families proudly encompasses a membership of over 280,000 individuals and extends its reach to nearly two million military and Veteran families worldwide, forming a significant “Blue Family” support network. Our local Chapters, Outposts, and virtual programs play a crucial role in fostering and strengthening the vital connections between military families and their broader communities. This network provides essential support, valuable resources, and a profound sense of belonging for those who serve and their loved ones. Our ongoing research endeavors continue to inform and empower our advocacy efforts, driving legislative changes aimed at enhancing the overall quality of life for military and Veteran families and dismantling the systemic barriers they encounter throughout their service journey.
The families of our All-Volunteer Force make extraordinary sacrifices every single day in their commitment to serving our nation. Our unwavering mission is to ensure that wherever American military families are stationed, they feel welcomed and confident within their community, actively included in advocacy processes, and that their unique military life is also filled with joy and connection. Recognizing that individual efforts are limited, we firmly believe that by working together, we can collectively “do our part” to genuinely support and uplift our military families, ensuring they feel truly at home, no matter where their service takes them in the world.
